So, I Came Up With A General Plan And I'd Like To Know Other Thoughts?

[lithium-mom]

Hi! I'm fairly new to the forum but I've found amazing support here. Long story short: grew up with an abusive father, got diagnosed with bipolar at 15-- picking up the pieces with appx. $93 in the bank and $981 in debt and $700 income. Amazing right? Not asking for money, just want to lay out my general plan for safety, and employment in general. Right now, I'm in a semi okay environment. I'm in school on scholarship, I live with a wife and her husband and her son and my friend who has PTSD as well and is incredibly unhealthy to be around. To be honest, I cannot wait to be away from her in many ways. I have a new place to live (in a different state, because of a school I'm going to-- University of West Florida) on June 1st with some friends, rent free (they offered, I will still probably pay rent).

Overall I'll have about $600 in savings when I leave here, and I'll have to get a suitcase and a bus ticket and leave. So, when I go to Pensacola-- can I get a driver's license? I'm not actually a resident in Alabama (where I'm at now) either, I'm technically homeless here too. I'm technically homeless everywhere. I'm just hoping when I go there it won't be a problem. Now, about my mental health care, I've been hospitalized I think upwards of 5 times (inpatient)-- so, if I bring all my documents- I should be able to get seen and get medication, I think? Where do I go? Who do I talk to? I sent an email to NAMI Pensacola. I'm pretty much grasping at straws here.

Now, I have a lot of anxiety but I think I'm going to be able to make it through these last two months of school (ends in May 6th). It's an unhealthy environment, but I lived in Pensacola for three years. I have a loving boyfriend, loving friends and community there. I'm going there to study music. Okay so-- long story short, my dad prevented me from studying music at a university level. I applied three times, got in every time. This probably isn't the right place to ask this question, but I think it would be smart just to take piano lessons/voice lessons for a year until I become a resident of Florida and THEN apply to school. I want to take a year to focus on my health and saving to become really mentally stable after my life being totally destroyed. Is that reasonable? I feel like a jerk for applying so many times and my plans being "thwarted" each time.

I personally think it will work. I think I will take private lessons for a year, get the health care I need free of charge from state services and then apply to school without my dad filing me on his taxes so I can get Pell Grant AND in-state tuition.

So I don't feel like dying anymore with that plan.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

So, when I go to Pensacola-- can I get a driver's license?

You need a utility bill in your name, SS card (or birth certificate) & any current ID card you have but yiu have to prove you are a resident in Fl w/ a bill.

What i did when i lived w/ my dad is had him write that i was living w/ him rent free and had no bills in my name and sign it and he was w/ me to show his licence; I had my KS DL and my birth cert...they took that.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Now, about my mental health care, I've been hospitalized I think upwards of 5 times (inpatient)-- so, if I bring all my documents- I should be able to get seen and get medication, I think? Where do I go? Who do I talk to? I sent an email to NAMI Pensacola. I'm pretty much grasping at straws here.

I live in the Atrractions area so dont know the panhandle but i do know the state. Unsure of healthcare. My step mom couldnt get ObamaCare cuz of how expensive it was, she's married tho but i believe they go off household income for medicaid, that i know...i tried for it.

Not sure what NAMI is.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

get the health care I need free of charge from state services

What state services? Other than health depmt i dont know of any state services. Do tell, my step mom needs health insur.

I guess if you arent married you can try for ObamaCare (crap).

 

[lithium-mom]

What state services? Other than health depmt i dont know of any state services. Do tell, my...

Because I've been hospitalized so many times I qualify for free services basically anywhere even if I'm not a resident. I can become a resident, I know this because I became homeless once and I qualified where I was! It was in Alabama, and I had to get some paperwork, but it was possible. But I've been hospitalized 5+ times for behavioral issues so I'm considered severely mentally ill.

I can prove I'm a resident of Florida after about a month or two of paying phone bills so that shouldn't be too difficult!

I don't get medicaid though, I don't know what it is. Currently I get Tricare though!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I can prove I'm a resident of Florida after about a month or two of paying phone bills so that shouldn't be too difficult!

If its a cell phone they wont take it (landline, electric, water etc) BUT I called the DMV and they said that as long as my dad (whom i was staying with rent free for 2 years) wrote a letter stating i was living with him, i think he had put the adress on it, signed it and was worh me to show hos DL it worked.


Maybe the hosoiralized a lot will work in you favor. Here they get DLs to anyone! They let an 80 something yr old take the eye test 12 times until he guessed all the letters out and walked out w/ a DL

 

[lithium-mom]

If its a cell phone they wont take it (landline, electric, water etc) BUT I called the DMV and...

Then I hope that will work!!!!

 

[joeylittle]

@lostforgottensoul - NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (https://www.nami.org), and they have local chapters everywhere.

@lithium-mom - I think it's smart to take a year and get ready. You can also look into taking a class at a jr college, if there's one in the area, to knock out any gen Ed requirements you can do cheaper than Pensacola. And lessons are great - especially when paired with a super-regular practice schedule ;)

What kind of music do you plan to study?

 

[Friday]

Agreed. Taking a year to work and gain state residency for instate tuition rates, continued musical practice/mentorship, plus community college some general ed requirements / get your feet wet with being back in school at 1/10th the price? Great plan. It takes what could be a ginormous transition and breaks it down into smaller pieces

 

[lithium-mom]

Agreed. Taking a year to work and gain state residency for instate tuition rates, continued musical...

I'm so glad you think this is a good plan (I always need validation, working on that haha)! I talked to my boyfriend and he thinks it's a good idea too. I'm mostly just worried about the mental illness monster coming out after Yet Another Move (my dad was military, we moved about 10+ times in my 21 years) but hey, it's nothing I can't handle!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (https://www.nami.org), and they have local chapters everywhere.

Oh ok, thanks! I had never heard of them.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Then I hope that will work!!!!

http://local.dmv.org/florida/escambia-county/pensacola/6451-north-w-st./dmv-office-locations.php

http://www.dmv.org/fl-florida/apply-license.php#Apply-for-a-FL-Drivers-License

Since the link doesnt take you straight there:

When you're ready to apply for your Florida driver's license, visit your local DHSMV officeand:

Present proof of your:Identity, e.g. U.S. birth certificate, permanent resident card, or citizenship certificate.
Social Security number (SSN), e.g. Social Security card, paycheck, 1099 form.
If you don't have a SSN, you will need to provide a letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and a secondary proof of identity.
FL residential address (2 documents), e.g. rental agreement, insurance policy, bank statement.
Completed Traffic Law & Substance Abuse Education Course.
Pass the DMV tests:
Vision.Hearing.Knowledge.
Driving.
Pay the $48 fee

NOTE: Use the FL DHSMV's Gather Go Get website to get a complete list of documents you will need.

Once you've passed the exams, you will be issued your new FL driver's license.

It didnt cost me $48 to go from an out of state DL to an in State DL and I didnt have to 2 documents so I called (this DMV # is (850) 438-6500) and told them my circumstance and they allowed me, in the same state but different city, to do the letter from my dad but he had to put certian things on them. Also, the friends you have can make up a 'rental agreement' that doesnt really apply but since they are friends and not an actual apartment/house landlord thing, i dont think that would work.

FL is pretty leanant on DLs so it shouldnt be an issue but call, before you get here, and tell them of the situation and what, out of that ist, you have and what you dont and why and they will tell you what you can bring in. The cell phone bill wont work, it doesnt prove residency which is the point.